MLB Rumors

The Rangers claimed recently-waived outfielder Joe Benson Saturday.

Benson, a former top-100 prospect on Baseball America's lists in 2011 and 2012, has struggled badly since reaching Triple-A Rochester last season. He is hitting just .192 this season and .187 overall in 70 games at the level.

The Twins were reportedly hoping his struggles would get him through waivers and off the 40-man roster. 

Yankees starting pitcher Andy Pettitte threw a normal bullpen session Saturday, a sign that he continues to recover well from a trapezius injury.

Pettitte told reporters all went well in his bullpen session, and hopes to throw a simulated game soon. He does not have an exact timetable for that or his possible return from the disabled list. However, he has maintained in recent days that he should be able to return around June 1, when he is first eligible to come off the disabled list. 

Rays starting pitcher David Price still has no timetable for his return from the disabled list, but he told reporters Saturday that he expects to begin a throwing program in the next few days.

Price has not yet thrown since going on the disabled list with a triceps strain but hopes to do so soon.  

Yankees starting pitcher Hiroki Kuroda experience "a little tightness" in his bruised right calf while throwing a bullpen session Saturday, but continues to express confidence in his ability to make his next start. He is scheduled to start Tuesday against the Mets.

Kuroda was hit on the calf by a line drive Wednesday against the Orioles. 

Angels starting pitcher Jered Weaver threw a light bullpen session Friday, and will throw one more Sunday before the team determines when he will be able to rejoin the rotation. According to the Los Angeles Times, Weaver will likely return from the disabled list Wednesday when the Angels take on the cross-town Dodgers.

Weaver has made just two starts this season, while recovering from a broken elbow in his non-pitching arm. 

Toronto recalled pitcher Thad Weber from Triple-A Buffalo Saturday, just a few days after he was claimed off waivers from the Padres. The Blue Jays optioned Sean Nolin to Double-A New Hampshire to make room on the active roster for Weber.  

Weber allowed just two runs in nine innings of work for the Padres earlier in the season. 

Dodgers catcher A.J. Ellis took part in a big collision at home plate Friday, as Cardinals outfielder Jon Jay barreled into him and left him lying on the ground for several minutes. Luckily, Ellis appears to have gotten out of the collision with just some stiffness and a bruise after being looked over by trainers.

"We were just taking inventory," Ellis told the Los Angeles Times. "Asking questions and working our way through the extremities. The only thing I really felt, and I still feel it now, is from watching the replay his knee made contact with my forearm. I have a pretty good bruise in my right forearm."

Ellis expects to play Saturday, and he has sat out just nine games this season. 

With Curtis Granderson headed to the disabled list with a fractured left pinky, the Yankees announced Saturday the recall of outfielder Brennan Boesch from Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre.

Boesch appeared in 20 games earlier in the season for the Yankees, hitting just .209 in 43 at-bats. He did add four extra-base hits and five RBI to his line. 

As expected, the Yankees placed outfielder Curtis Granderson on the 15-day disabled list Saturday, after he fractured the pinky on his left hand Friday.

Granderson had played in just eight games after missing the first six weeks of the season due to a broken forearm. Brennan Boesch was recalled from Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre to take his place on the roster.

Granderson was batting .250 with one home run prior to the injury. He is expected to be out four weeks.

The Orioles placed reliever Pedro Strop on the 15-day disabled list Saturday, with a lower back strain. Steve Johnson was recalled from Triple-A Norfolk to take his place in the bullpen.

Strop has allowed runs in each of his last two outings, raising his ERA for the season to 6.11. It is not clear how long he has been dealing with this injury.